Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-12
THE POHlCk CHURCH.
where Washington worshlped and
Was a ycstrymnn.

Was Vostrynan.
After delightful drive. through
finely wooded and we'll cultivated coun.
try | arrived at Pohick church, In Vir-
gnia, regarded with so much reverence
by Americans, rs IL was here that tor
many years that Gen. Washington
worshiped, The sexton unlocked the
large gate of tho enclosure. Tho site OF
the church was selected by Washington
on account of It's central position, aud
its proximity to Mount Vernon. The
contractor was Mr.. Daniel French lt
was begun In 1863 and finished Ia l772.
The bricks were made In the county,
and the stone was brought from the
Isle of Wight The building was 664
feet In length by Al In width and the
walls were 20 feet in height. The on
tire cost was EST sterling. The money
for the payment was raisedby taxation
The walls appear to have been .brok-
en-, rs the repairs have been made Of
new bricks. The church has IN anci.
larger than Is usually seen in the coun,
try.
There are two doors on the western
side, and twonty-six windows. The
steps are eight In number built Of the
same stone rs the trimmings and case.
monts Of tho doors. The church has
been thoroughly renovated. There are
two isles and four rows OF substantial
pews and beautiful chancel inclosed
with scmi-cirele railing During the
civil war the regiments stationed nj
Alexandria quartered Their pickets In
this church. and the Pennsylvania and
Iowa union soldiers stabbed their horses
in II, The stone tagging of the isle
were torn up and thrown out, tho pull
pit and pows broken up, and the pieces
sent rs mementoes or relies TO different
states, to relatives and friends. Wash
ington's pew met the same treatment.
The spot on which IL stood. on tho
north side, Is pointed out to visitors
The roof of the church was pierre.
cd with bullets; all the plastcring
fell down; holes were chseled out in
tho corners of the church, which had
stone facing, to find the money sup
posed to BIO in the cornerstone, and
some members OF IN Iowa regiment
carved their mines In the west corner
on the stone facing near the door.
l
The lsL of the names OF the original
yestrymcn OF Pohick church was kind.
ly furnished mo by Virginia gentle.
man Of Accotink, who is quite an
antiquarian and had copied them
from the vestry book of 1772, which
has been found during the last three
months in tho state OF New York.
where II had been treasured and hid
away by Virginia family. Tho first
yostryman's name ON the list was
that Of George Washington, and then
followed the names Of George Mason.
Of Gunston, who wrote the bill OF
rights OF the state Of Virginia; George
w. Fairfax, baronet collector OF the
kingss customs for the Potomac;
| Alexander Henderson. Martin Coburn,
Col. Daniel McCarty, Gen. VIM Payne
Thomas WILDER Golfer, and Mr.. Elizer.
Near the church Is small grove.
There are also many graves. / read the
following inscription on tombstone
over hundred years old:
40 the memory Of Mrs. Susanna
Mills, wife of John Mills (merchanD.
who departed this life June II, 1774,
aged 80 years.
| "What'cr she was forbear to say,
Twill best be known on the great day,
When you and all and every one
Must give account OF what was done.
To say no more she lived approved,
Died lamentcd and beloved"
As | turned away TO return home.
ward my mind was filled with thoughts
Of the different scenes which had been
enacted on and around the historic
spot during peace and war, under the
same soft blue sky, with its feathery
clouds, and the same beautiful sur
roundiugs Of emerald green meadows,
yellow-t nted green fields and distant
hills flooded with waves Of light catch
ing CLEANS OF the suns glory. Cor.
Washington Star.
|